Best Lenses for the Nikon D7100
Announced in February 2013, the Nikon D7100 was set to replace the D7000 as the flagship model for Nikon’s line of DX Cropped Sensor DSLR Cameras. The D7100 is placed in between the company’s entry level and professional DSLR models, making it the perfect camera for both serious amateur and semi-pro photographers that want to step it up a notch. The camera boasts of 24.1 Mega Pixels of resolution, resulting in sharper and more detailed photographs than it’s predecessors.
The Nikon D7100 uses Nikon’s DX lenses, but is also compatible to third party lens manufacturers. While the D7100 is available for purchase with an excellent kit lens: the 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 Auto Focus-S DX VR ED, there is a whole range of better lenses out there. Lenses that provide functionality and quality, dedicated to each function for every photography genre. In this overview you will find a few of the best lenses for Nikon D7100, in accordance to type and genre.
Overview of the Best Lenses for Nikon D7100
Best ‘All-in-one’ lenses (Standard Zoom)
Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens
The Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II is regarded as one of the best lenses for Nikon D7100 due to its wide range of zoom capability. This lens can be used for versatile purposes, from portraits to landscapes. It boasts of a silent motor sound during focusing and it is equipped with Nikon’s vibration reduction system, to prevent camera shake during operation. Its two extra low dispersion elements provide highly acceptable sharpness and color enhancements that provide an edge to other lenses.
Though it is considered as the most versatile of the lenses of the DX series line-up, its versatility cannot have it all. A small drawback is that it only yields an average quality on close-up photography.
Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor Lens
Announced in June 2012, the Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX is considered as the longest range zoom lens for any interchangeable camera lens system available. It also has the stable but essential features of other Nikon DX series line-up of lenses, such as silent motor focusing as well as a second version optical image stabilisation system. It is also one of the few zoom lenses that let you perform manual focusing during the auto-focus mode.
The disadvantage of a lens that boasts such a long zoom range is its weight. This gives a minor setback from its versatile functionality, as it is also one of the heaviest among its similar zoom lenses.
Best Telephoto lenses
Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR
The Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR is a compact 3.6x manual telephoto zoom type that is designed to be paired with the 18-55 zoom kit lens ( which is originally sold with the Nikon D7100 body). It is a nice complement to the kit lens, due to its dynamic auto focus motor. It also has a 4-stop vibration system that enables minimal camera shake during use. Aesthetically, it complements with the Nikon D7100 due to its compact physical profile and its lightweight feature.
A minor drawback from this lens is that it creates minor vignetting when its aperture is set to maximum at 55mm, but there’s not much to worry about as it does not affect most real-world shots.
Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED
Another complementary telephoto zoom lens to the Nikon D7100’s 18-55 zoom kit lens, the Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED provides larger focal range of up to 300 mm, equalling a zoom capability of 5.5x. Alongside its inherent Nikon lens features such as vibration reduction and silent wave motor, it is regarded as one of the best lenses for Nikon D7100 in the telephoto lens range.
It does have a minor negative feature: manual focus is not possible when the focus mode selector on the lens itself is set to A, but this does not necessarily mean it decreases its function.
Best Wide angle lenses
Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
The Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G ED has the widest rectilinear lens in all of Nikon’s lens line-up for the DX series. It has an angle of view range similar to 15-36 mm on a 35mm system, which gives the opportunity to also be used on full-frame Nikon DSLRs. Another plus for this lens is that though it is mainly used for large subjects such as landscapes and architecture, it can also be used for macro as its minimum focus distance is as close as 24 cm.
The only shortcoming is that it does not have an infrared focus index, which you might not really care for that much.
Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR
The Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR lens is one of the most versatile lenses in the Nikon DX series lens line up. With a focal range equivalent of 24-127.5 mm for 35 mm formats, it is suitable for a wide range of shooting scenarios. With its vibration reduction, silent wave motor, and with its super integrated coating, it offers a large coverage from portraits up to medium zoom shots. Also an excellent lens for portrait photography.
Best Portrait lenses (Fast Primes)
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Auto Focus-S
Following its standard lens line-up for the DX series, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Auto Focus-S ably provides the features to capture exceptional portraits with its added features such as the built-in silent wave motor for fast auto focusing, a new set of optical formula and also manual focus override. What’s even better is that it is mounted on a weather sealed housing which makes you feel more adventurous when shooting portraits without worrying about damage from various weather conditions. There is no vibration reduction feature for this lens though but it does not affect being regarded as one of the best lenses for Nikon D7100 for its type.
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Auto Focus-S DX
The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Auto Focus-S DX lens is a little bit off for its type and intended function. As a 35mm focal distance lens is not your typical lens for portrait photography. But with the growing changes towards digital photography, a standard prime of 35mm can fit in. With its small and lightweight features, its F1.8 maximum aperture truly helps on low light shooting and is one of essential things needed for portrait photography. And with the useful DX lens series features such as silent wave motor, fast auto focus and manual focus override, a 35mm lens for portraits is not bad at all!
Best Macro lens
Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro
When it comes to macro photography, there is not a whole lot of lenses to choose from. We think the Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro is the best model for macro enthousiast, as it allows to shoot small subjects (insects, flowers, etc.) while retaining some distance. Next to being fully capable of macro photography, the lens is also perfectly suitable for portrait photography.
Alongside its silent wave motor, vibration reduction for image stabilization and its slower than usual three shutter speeds, it is fully equipped for macro photography and even for low light telephoto. The only small drawback from this functionally loaded lens is that there is some light fall-off on the corners, but it is truly manageable and does not affect the lens’ versatility.
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